Two-stage harvesting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510509-B2
Application number	US-201213601415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A two-stage harvesting system including a first stage harvesting apparatus and a second stage harvesting apparatus. The first stage harvesting apparatus takes a first crop portion from an agricultural crop leaving a second crop portion in a field. The second stage harvesting apparatus takes the second crop portion. The first stage harvesting apparatus and the second stage harvesting apparatus are connected together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A two-stage harvesting system, comprising:
a first stage harvesting apparatus taking leaves from an agricultural crop leaving stems that are leaf stripped and standing in a field, the first stage harvesting apparatus powered by and detachably connected to the rear of an agricultural power unit; and
a second stage harvesting apparatus taking said stems and placing them on a ground surface, said second stage harvesting apparatus being powered by and detachably connected to the front of the agricultural power unit, the two-stage harvesting system operates in a forward moving direction of the agricultural power unit, said first stage harvesting apparatus operating in a first swath adjacent to said second stage harvesting apparatus operating in a second swath.

2. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 1 , further comprising an adjacent vehicle traveling in the second swath, wherein said leaves are directed thereto from said first stage harvesting apparatus.

3. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 1 , further comprising a towed container wherein said leaves are directed thereto from said first stage harvesting apparatus, and wherein said towed container is towed in the second swath.

4. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein said second stage harvesting apparatus removes said stems in a cutting manner and places said stems in a windrow.

5. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 4 , wherein said leaves are removed from said stems in a non-cutting manner.

6. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 1 , wherein the first stage harvesting apparatus at least partially conditions the stems that are leaf stripped and standing in a field.

7. A two-stage harvesting system, comprising:
an agricultural power unit;
a first stage harvesting apparatus taking leaves from an agricultural crop leaving stems that are leaf stripped and standing in a field, said first stage harvesting apparatus being powered by said agricultural power unit and being detachably connected to the rear of said agricultural power unit; and
a second stage harvesting apparatus taking said stems and placing them on a ground surface, said second stage harvesting apparatus being detachably connected to the front of said agricultural power unit, said first stage harvesting apparatus operating in a first swath adjacent to said second stage harvesting apparatus operating in a second swath, said agricultural power unit traveling in a forward direction in said second swath.

8. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 7 , further comprising an adjacent vehicle traveling in the second swath, wherein said leaves are directed thereto from said first stage harvesting apparatus.

9. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 7 , further comprising a towed container detachably connected to the rear of the agricultural power unit, wherein said leaves are directed thereto from said first stage harvesting apparatus, and wherein said towed container is towed in the second swath.

10. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 7 , wherein said second stage harvesting apparatus removes said stems in a cutting manner and places said stems in a windrow.

11. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 10 , wherein said leaves are removed from said stems in a non-cutting manner.

12. The two-stage harvesting system of claim 7 , wherein the first stage harvesting apparatus at least partially conditions the stems that are leaf stripped and standing in a field.

Assignees

• Kraus Timothy J
• Erdmann Jeremy M
• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J
• Erdmann Jeremy M

Classifications

• A01D45/00 Primary

  Harvesting of standing crops (A01D44/00 takes precedence; threshing machines adapted for special crops, threshing devices for combines adapted for special crops A01F11/00; harvesting of mushrooms A01G18/70) · CPC title

• A01D91/04

  Products growing above the soil (fruit, hops A01D46/00) · CPC title

• A01D43/00 Primary

  Mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing (A01D37/00, A01D39/00, A01D41/00, take precedence) · CPC title